PSAT Writing : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1151 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Spreading through the night, the city was destroyed by the massive fire.
the massive fire destroyed the city.
the massive fire was destroyed in the city.
the city destroyed by the massive fire.
the city was destroyed by the massive fire.
the city was destroyed in the massive fire.
the massive fire destroyed the city.
The sentence is written in a confusing way, making it read as though the city was "spreading" instead of the "massive fire." The sentence should be clarified to show that it was the fire that was "spreading," which will also allow a passive construction to change to an active construction. The answer choice that does this and is sensibly arranged is "the massive fire destroyed the city."
Example Question #31 : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Turning around in the crowded store, the counter was run into by the harried man.
the counter was run into by the harried man.
the harried man ran into the counter.
the counter run into the harried man.
the harried man was run into by the counter.
the counter ran into by the harried man.
the harried man ran into the counter.
As it is written, the sentence is quite confusing, reading as though the counter was "Turning around." The underlined portion of the sentence can be rewritten to show both that the "harried man" is turning and get rid of the passive voice construction of the sentence. The only answer choice to properly achieve both of these goals is "the harried man ran into the counter."
Example Question #31 : Dangling Modifier Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
While they were making the climb, higher rocks would continually fall on the mountaineers.
While they were making the climb, higher rocks continually fall on the mountaineers.
While they were making the climb, higher rocks would continually fall on the mountaineers.
While they were making the climb, mountaineers continually fall with higher rocks on them.
Higher rocks would continually fall on the mountaineers while they were making the climb.
While they were making the climb so higher rocks would continually fall on the mountaineers.
Higher rocks would continually fall on the mountaineers while they were making the climb.
The sentence is written in a way that makes the "higher rocks" seem to be the ones that are "making the climb." The sentence needs to be restructured and rearranged to show the "mountaineers" are the ones "making the climb." The answer choice that best straightens out this issue is "Higher rocks would continually fall on the mountaineers while they were making the climb."
Example Question #1862 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Moving into a new neighborhood, the neighbors were suspicious of the odd family.
Moving into a new neighborhood, the neighbors were suspicious of the odd family.
Moving into a new neighborhood, the odd family being suspicious of new neighbors.
The neighbors were suspicious of the odd family, new neighborhood moving.
Moving into new neighborhood for neighbors were suspicious of the odd family.
The neighbors were suspicious of the odd family moving into a new neighborhood.
The neighbors were suspicious of the odd family moving into a new neighborhood.
The way the sentence is written, it appears that the neighbors were "moving into a new neighborhood" as a large mass. In fact, the sentence could be improved by emphasizing that the "odd family" was doing the moving. The answer choice that best clears up this confusion is "The neighbors were suspicious of the odd family moving into a new neighborhood."
Example Question #22 : Correcting Dangling Modifier Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Walking into a new room, the full display of jewels was seen by the tour group.
the tour group saw the full display of jewels.
the full display of jewels was seen by the tour group.
the full display of jewels saw by the tour group.
the full display of jewels was seen for the tour group.
the tour group was seen by the full display of jewels.
the tour group saw the full display of jewels.
The sentence is written in such a way to make it seem as though the "full display of jewels" was doing the "walking" instead of "the tour group." The sentence should be restructured to clarify this confusion, which can also get rid of the passive voice construction. The answer choice that best clarifies the meaning of the sentence is "the tour group saw the full display of jewels."
Example Question #361 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Only taking classes at night, the degree came slowly to the young woman.
Only taking classes at night, the degree coming slowly to the young woman.
The degree came slowly to the young woman who was only taking classes at night.
The degree came slowly to the young woman; only taking classes at night.
Only taking classes at night, the degree came slowly to the young woman.
Only taking classes at night, the degree came slow to the young woman.
The degree came slowly to the young woman who was only taking classes at night.
The sentence is written in a way that makes it appear that the "degree" was "taking classes at night," rather than the "young woman." The sentence must be rearranged and restructured to properly indicate who or what is doing the action of the sentence. The answer choice that best clarifies the sentence is "The degree came slowly to the young woman who was only taking classes at night."
Example Question #362 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Coming into his own, the beard was grown by the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the beard growing by the teenager to make himself look older.
The beard was grown by the teenager to make himself look older coming into his own.
Coming into his own, the beard was grown by the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the teenager grew the beard to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the beard grew the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the teenager grew the beard to make himself look older.
The sentence is written in such a way to make the sentence read as though "the beard" was "coming into his own." The sentence needs to be rearranged and restructured to show it was the teenager was "coming into his own." The correct answer choice, which also eliminates the passive voice construction, is "Coming into his own, the teenager grew the beard to make himself look older."
Example Question #361 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Running down the hill, the underbrush the boy fell into was thorny.
Running down the hill, fell into the underbrush that was thorny the boy.
Running down the hill, the thorny underbrush the boy fell into.
Running down the hill, fell into the thorny underbrush the boy.
Running down the hill, the boy fell into the thorny underbrush.
Running down the hill, the boy fell into the underbrush that was thorny.
Running down the hill, the boy fell into the thorny underbrush.
The sentence is written in such a way that "the underbrush" was "running down the hill," and this confusion needs to be clarified. To do this, the sentence needs to be rearranged so that the introductory participial phrase, "Running down the hill," is as close as possible to the noun that it describes, "the boy." Two answer choices rearrange the sentence in this way: "Running down the hill, the boy fell into the thorny underbrush" and "Running down the hill, the boy fell into the underbrush that was thorny." The first of these options is the best because saying "the underbrush that was thorny" instead of "the thorny underbrush" is redundant.
Example Question #241 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best answer from the options given.
Skeptical that prophets could actually tell the future, Ancient Greece was where droves of philosophers began to value reason over revealed truths.
the valuing of reason over revealed truths was begun by droves of philosophers in Ancient Greece.
it was droves of philosophers that began to value reason over revealed truths.
Ancient Greece was where droves of philosophers began to value reason over revealed truths.
droves of philosophers in Ancient Greece began to value reason over revealed truths.
valuing of reason over revealed truths by philosophers in Ancient Greece was begun.
droves of philosophers in Ancient Greece began to value reason over revealed truths.
The modifying phrase beginning the sentence must also modify the subject of the main clause. Ancient Greece cannot be skeptical. The only logical subject is philosophers.
Example Question #1691 : Gmat Verbal
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path was followed for miles by the convoy.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy followed the path for miles.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path was followed for miles by the convoy.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path followed by the convoy for miles.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path was following for miles by the convoy.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy following the path for miles.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy followed the path for miles.
The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, as it is constructed in a manner that makes it seem as if "the path" is "unaware of" "any problems ahead." To correct this, the sentence's word order needs to be reversed so that the introductory phrase is immediately followed by the noun it describes—"the convoy," not "the path." "Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy followed the path for miles" is the only answer choice that corrects this error. "Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy following the path for miles" is incorrect because "following" is acting as a participle (that is, like an adjective describing "convoy"), and so the sentence does not contain a predicate and is thus a fragment.
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